Fire starts in Blaine County

Bureau of Land Management reported Tuesday that a fire had broken out in Blaine County near the Stafford Ferry on the Missouri River.

At the start of a regional weekly fire update call Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., it had been another light week for fires in this area of Montana, although local governments and agencies were being asked to be cautious for the next few days due to winds potentially worsening fire conditions.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, well after the fire call, the fire was reported in Blaine County about 5 miles north of Stafford Ferry in Blaine County.

The fire was estimated at more than 450 acres as of about 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

A release from the Montana Bureau of Land Management later that afternoon said the fire is burning on private and public land and appears to be growing quickly due to the windy conditions, burning timber, dry grasses and sagebrush.

The release said the fire is being managed by BLM North Central Montana District which assumed command around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"Collectively, approximately 40 personnel from the BLM, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Blaine County and private resources are working together to fight the fire," the release said.

The release said firefighters are working to prevent the fire from spreading to two structures as well as natural gas infrastructure.

"The public is advised to stay clear of the area and not operate unmanned aircraft-drones-in the vicinity," the release says. "Please, do not engage in any activity that could obstruct active fire operations and increase risk to firefighters."

The release said people should check for fire restrictions before starting outdoor activities at http://www.mtfireinfo.org .

Blaine County Disaster and Emergency Services had not responded to a request for an update by printing deadline this morning.

In the regional fire call Tuesday morning, most counties in the area reported few to no fires over the past week, with Hill, Valley, Golden Valley, Daniels and Petroleum counties reporting no fires at all.

Those counties that did report fires on the call said the number of acres lost has been fairly low, with Sheridan County losing less than an acre in their one fire of the week.

Blaine County saw very low acreage loss by the time of that call, but two combines were destroyed by the three equipment-caused fires in the past week.

Fergus and Judith Basin counties both reported two fires with the latter losing around 100 acres, the worst number reported for the past week.

Sheridan and Roosevelt counties reported one fire each with the former losing less than an acre and the latter losing five.

Hill and Wheatland counties have elected to stay in Stage 1 fire restrictions due to the ongoing conditions, as will Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, and Roosevelt will be implementing a burn ban soon.

These restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire unless noted in the exemptions below or as designated in the specific closure order.

Smoking is allowed within enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

Exemptions to these restrictions include people with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act, and people using a device solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off.

Such devices can only be used in an area that is barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within three feet of the device.

People conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice are also exempt, as are federal, state, or local officers or members of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

During the call counties were advised to be cautious as the next few days will bring strong winds out of the west which will make for more dangerous fire conditions, but otherwise there aren't any immediate concerns for increased fire danger in the region.